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I have always been interested in this language as it looks so different
from English (right next door) but they are related.
For example, a town in Wales is named Bwlchnewydd pronounced (my interpretation) "Book nel end"
Most definitely not phonetic in its spelling, as least from an English speaker.
Lechyd da
"A little time, a little trouble, your better day"
Badfinger
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jmaida wrote: Bwlchnewydd
No it's pronounced more like*:
Bwl : bull
ch : as the ch in loch, i.e. a guttural sound
ne : like nay but without the y sound
wydd : just like with - double d in Welsh is a hard th sound.
But English and Welsh are only loosely related, as Welsh is closer to Cornish and Breton.
*If @OriginalGriff suggests a different pronunciation that's because he is from the South.
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That's pretty good Richard
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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I went to school in North Wales, and learning Welsh was mandatory up till the age of thirteen. I always regret not sticking to it to O-level.
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Yes you mentioned that in a post ages ago, were you somewhere near Rhyl ?
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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We lived in Prestatyn, and my elder brother and I went to the Grammar School in Rhyl.
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I was born in Caernarfon but never learnt the language as we weren't a Welsh speaking family - my elder brother and I were told we had to learn it in order to pass the 11+ to go to grammar school ( we had no chance of learning it ) so two of the schools brightest pupils missed out ( I still don't like Plaid Cymru ) such is life.
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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We were not a Welsh speaking family, and the only reason we ended up living there was because of my dad's Army posting. Also, we did not need Welsh to pass the 11+, even though we were bound by the rules of the WJEC*. Maybe our proximity to the border with England had something to do with it.
*Welsh Joint Education Committee (or Council).
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I think the need to speak Welsh in the North is greater than ever now - my cousin (who is the current mayoress of Caernarfon) also never spoke it and tells me it's nigh on impossible to get a job unless you speak Welsh.
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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Personally I don't think that's a bad thing, language and culture are worth preserving.
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They are worth preserving but the way they do it involves a sledgehammer
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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As with everything since Equality and Diversity were invented.
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Ain't that the truth
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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I think you all have made me even more curious to visit, next time I am in Great Britain.
Many Moon's ago, the closest I got to Wales was Bristol on the way to St. Ives. (ok, I about the man from St. Ives) near the most southern tip of England.
"A little time, a little trouble, your better day"
Badfinger
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I tried to spell the pronunciation as I heard from this website
How to pronounce Bwlchnewydd, in Welsh | HowToPronounce.com[^]
Perhaps it's a little off as a computer generated pronunciation.
Thanx for the lesson.
I have always had an interest in Wales. So much history. Lots of famous folks, too.
"A little time, a little trouble, your better day"
Badfinger
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I listened to Cornish and Breton speakers on you tube. They did sound similar to the welsh speaker.
Amazing how languages develop, blend and mature. These three languages are definitely not sounding like English but according to scholars they are related. Go figure.
"A little time, a little trouble, your better day"
Badfinger
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jmaida wrote: not sounding like English but according to scholars they are related
As are all Indo-European languages.
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Welsh is Greek to me ... and both are Indo-European languages 
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true
"A little time, a little trouble, your better day"
Badfinger
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Richard MacCutchan wrote: because he is from the South
That makes me worried there's a Welsh version of the Hatfields and the McCoys, but with far more interesting cussing going on.
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Oh yes I'm sure @OriginalGriff knows the meaning of "mochyn bydyr". But it's slightly different to the North Wales translation.
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I knew I was going to get punished for that word.
"A little time, a little trouble, your better day"
Badfinger
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You opened the door, all I did was walk in.
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 That's why there is a pun is punish.
"A little time, a little trouble, your better day"
Badfinger
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